taught by licensed English as
Second Language instructors.
On Jan. 29, Resettlement Ser-
vice will host a
Left: Boris Trifsik: town meeting
"It's like death." to go over the
impact of wel-
Below: Anatoly
fare reform and
Vodopyanov:
to
further ex-
dreams clouded
by need to pass a plain the cours-
es it is offering.
test.
Massive numbers of Detroit's
Russian community failing the
citizenship test could result in
hundreds of thousands of dollars
in emergency aid coming from
Federation just to keep people
fed, housed and receiving med-
ical treatment. The test prepa-
ration is endorsed by the
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.
The citizenship process is a
PHOTO S BY DANI EL LI PPI1T
•
Get Busy On Your
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION With...
V/ BUSY
"
BODIES
three-pronged effort: the writ-
ten test, an oral exam and the
filling out of a complicated ap-
plication.
Rachel Yoskowitz, director of
Resettlement Service, said the
classes are fueled by the moti-
vation of urgency.
"Still," she added, "when you
talk to people who are here, they
tell you that they love this coun-
try, and that it is beautiful
for them to live in a free so-
ciety. They remain so grate-
ful."
Anatoly Vodopyanov, 70,
would never question how
wonderful he feels to be in
the U.S. He just doesn't un-
derstand why his dreams of
living here are clouded by
the need to pass a citizen-
ship test. He and his wife,
Marya, 61, have already
passed the written test. Mr.
Vodopyanov was scheduled
to take the written test the
same day he was in the hos-
pital for cancer treatment.
Passing the test means so
much that his son picked
of them are still waiting for
something to change about this
law."
She and her husband find
themselves on the opposite end
of this situation. They are both
employed and living the Ameri-
can dream. They, however, have
five elderly relatives who could
become dependent on them if
they cannot pass the test.
"I am a good daughter, and
my husband is a good son," she
said. "Everything we've worked
through all these years will go
to nothing if we have to support
everyone.
"It's all about money. This is
affecting people who can't pro-
tect themselves. But we will try
very hard to educate everyone.
But what do you do with a 90-
year-old who can't even write his
name in English or for that mat-
ter Russian anymore?"
❑
Answers to the questions:
1.The President.
2. Speech, press, religion.
3. Lansing.
The Heatherwood
I
,r)
Inc.
Cherilyn Levy RN
Certified Personal Trainer
Aerobics Instructor
him up from the hospital, took
him to the test center, and then
returned him to the hospital fol-
lowing the test.
"I think this is such a fine
country," he said through inter-
preter Regina Smolitsky, a post-
resettlement counselor. "But I
never thought something like
this would happen. I say that be-
cause most of the people I know
who this will hurt are elderly
people. And these elderly peo-
ple, they want more than any-
thing to become citizens of the
United States.
"But what's going to happen
to them if they don't pass it?"
Mr. Trifsik was even more im-
passioned. "Going to classes is
very hard," he said. "The mem-
ory isn't the same as it once was.
I can't even believe what might
happen. It's like death."
Ms. Smolitsky, who came to
this country 17 years ago and
who has had U.S. citizenship for
12 years, is worried, especially
about the older people.
"I can't imagine who will take
care of them," she said. "Many
Our chef... at your service!
Give your pots and pans a rest. Let Heatherwood cook for you. We'll
treat you to a delicious dinner in our elegant dining room.
Entertaining family and friends? Relax, and leave the cooking to us!
Retirement living... the way you always dreamed it would be.
Affordably priced from $975 a month
(810)788-1177
Call for a complimentary luncheon and personal tour
Home or Office
(810) 350-1777
Equipment Available
the
r- MOLFWORKS
WOOD WORKING
Specializing In
Building Fine Furniture &
Antique Reproductions
Refinishing • Repairs
Ask for Ethan Wolf
Cabinetmaker
(810) 887 0334
-
$5 OFF
Any
Repairs
$10 OFF
Services
Over $1001-
ATHERWOOD
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9-5 • Sat., Sun., and evening tours available by appointment
22800 Civic Center Drive • Southfield, MI 48034
r
22800 Civic Center Dr.
tho
Southfield, MI 48034
ATHERWOOD
1=321=M -
—
Name
Address
City
Store
Zip
Phone
Mail this coupon for a free brochure.
JN
1